Senate stands by its highway funding plan

A funding solution for Texas highways on Friday reached the critical fork in the road, when state senators stood firm on their plan to shift $800 million to transportation spending.

Sen. Robert Nichols chairs the Senate Committee on Transportation.

Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, swapped the proposal passed by House lawmakers Thursday for his original plan. Nichols’ proposal takes half the oil and gas tax money going into the state’s economic stabilization fund and gives it to transportation.

Following the 27-0 senate vote reaffirming Nichols plan, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed five senators to work with House leaders to come to some agreement. Dewhurst acknowledged “significant policy differences” remain, with less than two weeks left in the special session.

There are two major difference between the House and Senate versions. Senators want to take money directly from the so-called rainy day fund and give it to transportation. The House version, by Rep. Joe Pickett, shifts all the revenues from motor fuel taxes to transportation and repays the nickel-per-gallon lost by education funds via the rainy day fund.

The other difference is senators have demanded a guaranteed minimum amount will remain in the rainy day fund, something many in the House have opposed.

The special session ends July 30, regardless of lawmakers reaching a compromise.

If both chambers can agree on a bill and it garners two-thirds votes in the house and senate, voters still must approve a constitutional amendment for the funding plan to take effect. That election, if held, will happen in November.